| Les Archer | |
| Nationality: | British |
| Birth Date: | 27 February 1929[1] |
| Birth Place: | Farnham, Surrey |
| Death Date: | [2] |
| Death Place: | Calp, Spain |
| Years: | 1946-1967 |
| Teams: | Norton |
| Championships: | 500cc – 1956 (European) |
| Wins: | 10 |
Leslie Archer, best known as Les Archer Jr. (27 February 1929 - 18 December 2019), was an English former leading motorcycle racer of the 1950s, competing in long-distance speed trials, road racing and scrambles, now known as motocross.[3]
He was the son of Les Archer, also a top motorcycle racer from the 1920s.[3] Archer is notable for winning the 1956 F.I.M. 500cc European Motocross Championship on a highly modified Manx Norton.[4] [5] [6]
Archer rode for the New Imperial factory at the 1947 Isle of Man TT,[7] and competed in the 1950 International Six Days Trial as a member of the British Army team.[8] He competed alongside his traveling companion Eric Cheney, who went on to become one of the top British motorcycle designers.[3] [9] Archer was also a member of the victorious British teams at the 1952 and 1953 Motocross des Nations events. Archer competed in the FIM European motocross championship with a 10th-place finish in 1954 then, improving to a 5th place in the 1955 championship.[10] [11] In 1956, he succeeded in winning the 500cc European motocross championship over the defending champion and countryman John Draper.[6] Archer further developed the Manx Norton into the 1960s with engine preparation by famed tuner Ray Petty.[3] [12] [13] [14]
He died aged 90 in Spain in December 2019 where he had been living since his retirement.